Something's always shaking

CEG TALENTDJ Skribble - aka Scott Ialacchi - first got the nickname "Skribble" when he was "bombing" New York City subways with graffiti in the 1980s.

DJ Skribble with special guest Dave Navarro. Where: Mixx at the Borgata Hotel & Casino, 1 Borgata Way in Atlantic City. When: Doors open 10 p.m. Saturday. How much: Tickets are $20 at the door (no advance sales); 21 and over with valid I.D. For more information, call (609) 317-1000.

Scott Ialacchi first got the nickname "Skribble" when he was "bombing" New York City subways with graffiti in the 1980s. Back then, the Queens native was heavily into the hip-hop world, from the art to the music.

In the 1990s, he and bunch of buddies formed a hip-hop group, Young Black Teenagers, an ironic name because they were all white. "We got beef. We pissed off a lot of people. It was great," he said.

After leaving the group and striking out on his own, DJ Skribble brought his hip-hop music on tours around the world. Though he has added house to his repertoire, he still knows how to rock the party.

At his Borgata gig on Saturday, he and ex-Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro will play a mash-up of digital and rock music.

Q: How did you get started?

A: I started DJ-ing when I was 11 years old. I saw a local kid DJ-ing in the neighborhood park. I was just drawn to it. He was playing jams. It was amazing watching these people around him. They were screaming, having a good time. And I said to myself, "This is what I want to do." I got my first turntable when I was 11½ years old. It was really old-school. I practiced.

Q: What did you scratch on?

A: Everything from James Brown and Run-D.M.C. I was into b-boying (break dancing) and graffiti.

Q: So you grew up with hip-hop?

A: I was 11 in the 1980s. Before I got into dance music, I was a hip-hop junkie. I was going to the Bronx. I was bombing subways.

Q: What was your favorite subway line to bomb?

A: I used to love the 6s. I used to just run every train line and take trains. I was big on the J train in Queens because that's where I was living.

Q: You were in Young Black Teenagers.

A: We had a hit, "Tap the Bottle," and we toured with Public Enemy. One world tour and two straight USA tours. We toured with Anthrax and Primus in the Bring Tha Noize tour.

Q: What was it like touring with Public Enemy and Chuck D?

A: Forget it. It was great because it was us and Public Enemy. I came from a time when hip-hop was growing. And to be onstage with thousands of people watching us and seeing the music we like grow up, it was great.

Q: What was it like backstage with Public Enemy? Was it crazy? Creative?

A: It was a very fun and creative time for me. I was on the road for five years of my life. When people ask me if I went to college, I say that was college.

Q: What was it like playing in front of those crowds?

A: It was amazing. The energy they gave us was phenomenal.

Q: How did you get into dance music?

A: I was friends with Ed Lover and Doctor Dre. I did a morning show at Hot 97 (radio station) for three or four years with them. The only slot they had open was a dance show. I took the opportunity. That's how I got into house music. I hated it at first.

Q: So what is the Borgata show with Dave Navarro going to be like?

A: It's a live mash-up pretty much. It's so cool watching people's faces. It's something they have never experienced before.

Q: Do you still love hip-hop?

A: I love hip-hop. I still play hip-hop. Some nights, I play all hip-hop. Some nights I play all house. It depends on the venue. It keeps it fun for me. If I play the same records all the time, it would be boring.

Basically, it's my job to make sure people are shaking their asses and having fun. That's my sole goal every time I go onstage.